-
Country report
Sep 2016
Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Japan 2016 Review
…of Japan has revised its energy policy in recent years to focus on further diversifying its energy mix (less use of fossil fuels, more reliance on renewable energy, restarting nuclear plants when declared safe) and curbing carbon emissions. Building on these plans, Japan has outlined ambitious goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26% between 2013 and 2030. This emissions reduction commitment requires a balancing act between energy security, economic efficiency, environmental protection and safety. This IEA review of Japan’s policies highlights three areas that are critical to its success: energy efficiency, increasing renewable energy supply and restarting nuclear…
-
Country report
Jul 2012
Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Ireland 2012 Review
…regard to gas security, particularly as 93% of its gas supplies come from a single transit point in Scotland. In order to meet Ireland’s ambitious renewable targets and improve the island’s level of energy security, the country must successfully develop a range of gas and electricity infrastructure projects and market solutions while continuing to integrate its energy markets with regional neighbours. Ireland also has a pro-active energy efficiency policy, including a detailed National Energy Efficiency Action Plan outlining 90 measures and actions to be implemented in order to achieve the target of 20% energy savings in 2020…
-
Country report
Jul 2003
Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Ireland 2003
…Market reform promises multiple economic benefits, although the government must ensure that the incumbent players do not enjoy undue advantages and that enough new competitors enter the market.
Ireland’s climate change policy is making progress. One uncertainty, however, involves the closure of the coal-fired Moneypoint plant. While this could provide 22% of the country’s required emissions cuts, replacement generation capacity would be required. This could also make the country 80% dependent on natural gas for its electricity, leading to energy security concerns. Ireland should take steps to better integrate Kyoto mechanisms into its overall climate change strategy. -
Country report
Dec 2025
Powering Ireland’s Energy Future
…this transition, supported by a detailed security study on the electricity supply mix.The analysis sets out five pillars for policy action: Establishing a cross-sectoral energy security strategy for the 2030s; delivering the enabling infrastructure to accommodate the growth of electricity demand and supply; accelerating the delivery of generation capacity, storage and demand-side flexibility; enabling secure system operation under high renewable penetration; advancing workforce skills, strengthening partnerships and facilitating electrification. Ireland can build on its progress in power system transformation to set an example of secure integration of large shares of variable renewable generation while safeguarding energy security.
-
Country report
Apr 2019
Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Ireland 2019 Review
…to transform its energy sector, Ireland is not on course to meet its 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. The decarbonisation of heating in buildings, one focus of this report, is a particular challenge.
In a more positive development, wind power accounted for around one-quarter of total generation in 2017 – the third-highest share of all IEA member countries. Additionally, this report suggests that Ireland has considerable scope to further advance alternative means of transport and public transport infrastructure, especially in urban areas.
In this report, the IEA provides recommendations for further improvements of Ireland’s energy policy to…
-
Report
Nov 2016
Gas Resiliency Assessment of Japan 2016
…summarises the findings from the "Gas Resiliency Assessment of Japan" workshop, organised jointly by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, held in July 2016. This initiative aimed to identify the natural gas supply security risks and challenges of Japan and to examine whether existing policies to address these challenges remain are and will remain relevant in the near future. This report contains several recommendations to improve the resiliency of Japan. In the energy system of Japan gas plays an important role, particularly so after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake…
-
Country report
Oct 2012
Oil and Gas Emergency Policy: Japan 2013 update
…met its minimum IEA stockholding obligation. Japan’s domestic natural gas production is limited – with production of around 3.3 bcm in 2012. Natural gas supply sources to the country are well diversified. As Japan has no cross border pipelines, the country imported natural gas through 31 liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals with around 10 bcm of natural gas storage capacity. Key elements of Japan’s overall gas security policy are diversifying its long-term supply contract portfolio, ensuring flexibility of increasing imports in times of an emergency in long term contracts, and using voluntary commercial LNG stocks in industry.
-
Country report
May 2011
Oil and Gas Emergency Policy: Ireland 2011 update
Oil and Gas Emergency Policy: Ireland 2011 update In 2007, the IEA published Oil Supply Security: Emergency Response of IEA Countries. This report provided an overview of the IEA oil emergency response system and a detailed look at the specific systems in each IEA country for responding to an oil supply crisis. The report represented the findings of a five-year review cycle of the emergency response mechanisms in IEA member countries. Since the 2007 publication, the IEA has started a new cycle of reviews which now includes reviewing gas emergency policies. Rather than waiting for the completion of the…
-
Policy report
Jun 2026
Scaling Up Demand Flexibility
From peak management to efficient system operation This report has been developed as part of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks (3DEN) initiative to examine the growing importance of demand flexibility in electricity systems amid rising demand, increased renewable energy integration and the electrification of power systems. Case studies in chronological order to examine the changing role of demand flexibility over time from South Africa (2025), Thailand (2030) and Ireland (2035) demonstrate how demand flexibility improves reliability, reduces costs, supports renewables integration and manages network constraints. To realise these benefits, the report emphasises the role for…
-
Article
18 Aug 2022
Japan Oil Security Policy
Country Energy Security Policy - Oil Oil overview Oil remains the most significant energy source in Japan, accounting for about 40% of the country’s total energy supply, even if Japan’s oil demand has been steadily decreasing in line with the country’s overall declining total energy use. This decline was only briefly interrupted after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and its subsequent impacts, when old oil power generation facilities were quickly brought back online to replace temporarily missing nuclear generation.Having no notable domestic production, Japan is heavily dependent on crude oil imports, with between 80% to 90…